talkSPORT Opinion: Win, lose or draw England must stand by Strauss

They say a week is a long time in sport; for Andrew Strauss the next four days may seem like a lifetime. At stake is England’s number one Test world ranking, Strauss’s place at the top of the order and his role as captain.

Unlike the legion of bleary-eyed cricket fans who’ve been setting their alarms for 5am of late, however, Strauss won’t be losing any sleep.

Back in 2008 I watched Strauss walk out to bat at McLean Park in Napier in what could have been his last Test innings. Having been recalled for the tour of New Zealand, he had endured a wretched series. He walked off the following day with a match winning 177 under his belt.

Confidence and reputation restored, he was named England captain within 12 months, with his 161 at Lord’s the following year crucial to England’s 2009 Ashes success.

But the stats from the 30 Tests since that knock against Australia make for grim Reading. One Test century with an average of just over 30 was acceptable when England were winning. Now they are losing, it’s become a problem.

There is no denying Strauss needs runs, but the stats tell only half the story.

Get rid of the captain and you get rid of the man who has brought the very best out of James Anderson.

Stand Strauss down and you will rob the team of the man who oversaw Matt Prior’s elevation to number six in the batting order.

Axe Strauss and you lose the architect of Graeme Swann’s ascent to the top of the world bowling ranks.

Drop Strauss and you remove the diplomat who brought harmony to a side wracked by tension following the Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores fiasco.

Then there are the more tangible successes - back-to-back Ashes victories, success in South Africa, nine unbeaten series as England captain.

It’s not even as though Strauss is being shown up by his peers. If Ian Bell hadn’t hit a hard-fought but ultimately irrelevant 50 in Galle it would be him experiencing the harsh gaze of the touring media.

As Darren Gough argues, Strauss has done enough for his country to be given time. As a far better player against pace than he is against spin, and with the pace heavy West Indian and South African attacks coming up in English conditions this summer, a return to form should be on the horizon.

A decision has to be made about Strauss, and quickly. That decision should be to name him as England’s captain and opener for the summer.

Strauss is the man who led England to number one in the world and he should be the man entrusted to keep them there.